Fan construction



Ami 25, 167 K, w. PARSONS ETAL 3,315,749

FAN CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1, 1965 A TOA /VEV W 25,1967 K. w. PARSONS ETAL 3,315,749

FAN CONSTRUCTION Filed July 1, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS KEA/A/E mM. pnpso /s & W/L M50 5. WAL TOA/ A 7' ro/PA/g April 2-5, 1967 K. w.PARSONS ETAL 3,315,749

FAN CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 1, 1965 m m y W5 5 I m F W4 Mm KWM) FAN CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 1, 1965 UnitedStates Patent 3,315,749 FAN CONSTRUCTION Kenneth W. Parsons and WilfredE. Walton, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Universal American Corporation,New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 1, 1965, Ser. No.468,721 7 Claims. (Cl. 170159) This invention relates to fanconstruction and method of making same and more particularly to a fanconstruction built up of components of sheet metal, the fan constructionof the invention being particularly usable for establishing air flowthrough a heat exchanger such as a radiator core of the liquid coolingsystem of an internal combustion engine.

Various types of cooling fans particularly for establishing air flowthrough a radiator core of a cooling system for an automobile enginehave been used. Fans of this character have been made of cast metal.Fans have been utilized in which a cast metal hub supports sheet metalblades fashioned with reinforcing ridges to lend stability to the bladesof the fan. Fan constructions have been devised wherein double bladedmembers of sheet metal are assembled in crossed relation at an axialregion to form a multi-vane fan.

In constructions of the latter character the vanes or blades cannot bearranged in unequally spaced circumferentially arranged relation toreduce sound vibrations which otherwise tend to occur with blades inequally spaced relation.

The present invention embraces a method of producing a multi-bladed faninvolving the steps of fashioning a plurality of blades of substantiallyidentical shape and assembling the blades with hub portions incontiguous stacked relation wherein the blades may be unequally spacedcircumferentially or equally spaced without modification of the shape orcontour of the individual blades.

Another object of the invention resides in a rotatable fan constructioncomprising a plurality of individual fan blades fashioned of sheetmetal, each having an annular hub portion, the hub portions of theblades being assembled with an annular hub member holding the blades indesired relation, the hub member providing reinforcement for each bladeto impart stability to the blades.

Another object of the invention resides in a method of forming arotatable fan construction of individual blades wherein the blades areof identical shape and contour enabling their formation by a single die,and wherein the hub portions are assembled in stacked relation andthereby disposing the :blades in axially spaced relation providing forrotation of the blades with the leading edges in spaced parallel planesto obtain improved air moving efliciency.

Another object of the invention resides in a method of producing amulti-blade fan of sheet metal components wherein the sheet metal bladesor vanes are of the same contour and are assembled with a sheet metalhub in desired circumferential spaced relation, the blades being formedwith hub portions having openings receiving a central flange on thesheet metal hub and the flange expanded with the blades assembledthereon to sectu'ely retain the blades in proper relation.

Another object of the invention resides in a method of producing amulti-blade fan construction from sheet metal components wherein theblades or vanes are fashioned of the same contour with annular hubsections in stacked relation and fashioned with aligned openings toreceive mounting bolts securing the blades against circumferentialdislodgement.

Another object of the invention resides in a rotatable fan constructionwherein the components are fashioned of sheet metal such as aluminum,steel or the like and 3,315,749 Patented Apr. 25, 1967 which areassembled in a manner to provide a low cost fan unit. I

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this inventionsuch as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the relatedelements of the structure, to various details of construction and tocombinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufactureand numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration ofthe specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may bepreferred, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational View of a form of fan construction of theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of a first blade of the fan assembly, the viewbeing taken on the line 3-3 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of a second blade of the fan assembly, the viewbeing taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an end view of the third blade of the fan assembly, the viewbeing taken on the line 5-5 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an end view of the fourth blade of the fan construction, theview being taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is an end view of the fifth blade of the fan assembly, the viewbeing taken on the line 7-7 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 88of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of one of the blades of the fan construction;

FIGURE 10 is a side view of the blade construction shown in FIGURE 9,and

FIGURE 11 is an end view of the blade shown in FIGURE 10.

While the illustrated embodiment of the fan construction made accordingto the method of the invention is particularly usable for moving airthrough a heat exchanger of a cooling system for an internal combustionengine, it is to be understood that fan construction made according tothe method may be employed as a fluid moving means for other uses.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate theassembly of fan blades and central hubmeans, the fan construction asshown being inclusive of five blades or air moving vanes identified bynumerals 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18. Each of the blades is fabricated as anindividual component as shown in FIGURES 9, 10, and 11, the severalblades being assembled so as to extend radially about a common axis 20,the blades being preferably spaced at unequal distancescircumferentially to reduce noise of air movement set up by rotation ofthe fan.

The air engaging portions 22 of the fan blades are of conventionalcurvature and each blade fashioned with an annularly shaped hubconfiguration at an end region. The blades 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 arerespectively fashioned with annular hub portions 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32as shown in FIGURES 2 through 7. Each annular portion of a blade definesa circular opening 34 and the annular portions are assembled in stackedor nested relation as shown in FIGURE 2.

As shown in FIGURES 2 through 7 the annular hub portions of succeedingblades are in stacked relation in assembly thereby positioning theseveral blades with the leading edges 36 of the blades in spacedparallel planes normal to the axis 20 of rotation of the fan, thedistance between adjacent planes of the leading edges of the blades 3being equal to the thickness of the metal of a blade. The annularportions of the fan blades, assembled as shown in FIGURE 2, provide ahub region of the fan assembly. A hub member 38 fashioned of sheet metalis provided for assembly with the annular hub portions of the fan bladesin the manner shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The hub member 38 is provided with a recessed or dished surface 40 ofplanar shape which is integrally joined with a projecting circularflange 42 the center being the axis 20, the exterior surface of theflange 42 being of a dimension to slidably, yet snugly receive theannular portions of the blades as shown in FIGURE 2. After assembly ofthe blades on the flange 42, the assembly is disposed in a press and theflange 42 expanded outwardly of its axis to secure and maintain theblades in proper relation. The end of flange 42 is preferably swaged asat 43 during expansion of the flange to prevent axial dislodgment of theblades. The flange 42 of the hub member 38 serves as a support for eachof the fan blades.

The hub member 38 is provided with integral projections providingreinforcement for the blades to resist lateral thrust set up byengagement of the rotating blades with the air. The hub member 38 isprovided with a projection for each blade, each projection being shapedfor contiguous engagement with an adjacent blade to attain thereinforcement desired for the blade. Referring to FIGURES 1 and 3through 7, the hub member 38 is provided with projections 46, 48, 50, 52and 54 which respectively engage the blades 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18.

Each of the fan or air moving portions 22 of the blades is joined withits annular hub portion by a transition region 58, the transition regionof each blade joining the annular portion at the end of the blade withthe curved blade portions 22 as shown in the blade in FIGURES 8, 9 and10.

As shown in FIGURES 3 through 7, each of the reinforcing projections onthe hub member 38 is curved and contoured to fit the transition region58 of the adjacent blade, each of the transition regions being ofslightly different shape by reason of the stacking or nesting of theannular hu'b portions.

FIGURES 3 through 7 also particularly illustrate the relation of eachreinforcing projection to its individual blade and the extent of offsetof each projection with respect to the planar portion 40 of the hubmember 38. Each of the annular hub portions of the fan blades isprovided with a plurality of small openings 64 which are formed in eachblade, the particular positioning of the openings 64 in an annularregion of a blade being dependent upon the desired circumferentialspacing of the blades so that in assembly the openings 64 are aligned asshown in FIGURES l and 2.

The openings 64 are adapted to receive mounting bolts 66, one of whichis shown in broken lines in FIGURE 2, for mounting the fan upon amounting member (not shown) of conventional construct-ion carried by adrive shaft upon which the fan is to be supported for rotation, thesecuring means serving to positively secure the blades in assembledrelation and prevent circumferential shifting of the blades. The blades10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 and the hub member 38 are fashioned of sheet metalsuch as aluminum or steel.

The method of forming the several fan blades making up the fan assemblyenables all of the fan blades to be stamped, blanked or severed fromsheet metal and the openings 34 formed therein at a single stampingoperation. As will be seen from FIGURE 1, the blades 10, 12, 14, 16 and18 are identical in exterior contour including the annular portions ofeach blade.

The openings 64 are pre-punched in the annular portion of each blade ina particular position relative to the blade whereby the annular portionsin contiguous assembly provide for alignment of the openings 64 in theseveral hub laminations provided by the annular portions of the severalblades. The hub member 38 is stamped or severed from a sheet of metaland processed through an offsetting die to contour the reinforcingprojections 46, 48, 50, 52 and 54 to the respective positions shown inFIG- URES 3 through 7 to provide for contiguous engagement of eachprojection with a transition region 58 of the adjacent fan blade.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a portion of the blade 10 and the reinforcingprojection 48 for the adjacent blade 12. As shown in FIGURE 1 the blades10 and 12 are closely spaced. In order to provide adequate reinforcingsupport for the blade 12, the projection 48 is contoured as shown at 49in FIGURES 1 and 8 to provide clearance for the transition region of theblade 10.

The fan construction of the invention is preferably fashioned ofaluminum because of the advantage in weight reduction and the method ofassembly of the blades and hub member eliminates welding operations.While in the embodiment illustrated, the hub portions of the blades arenested or stacked so that the leading edges of the blades rotate inspaced parallel planes, the annular hub portions of the blades may beindividually offset to an extent to dispose the leading edges of theblades in a common plane.

In the former arrangement, the blades are offset one from another to anextent of the thickness of the metal, the leading edges of the bladesbeing rotatable in adjacent parallel planes. If desired, the several fanblades may be equally spaced circumferentially. While the illustratedembodiment includes five blades, it is to be understood that a greateror lesser number of blades may be utilized in conjunction with a likenumber of reinforcing projections on the hub member.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modificationsand different arrangements may be made other than as herein disclosed,and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the inventioncomprehending all variations thereof.

We claim:

1. A fan construction including, in combination, a plurality ofindividual blades formed of sheet metal, each of said blades having anopening in an end region thereof defining a generally annularconfiguration, a hub member having a laterally extending circular flangeof a shape to snugly fit into the openings in the blades, the annularregions of the blades defining the openings being in stacked relatiowith the blades in radially-extending circumferentially-spaced relationand the circular flange of the hub member extending through the openingsin all of the blades, said hub member having integral radially-extendingprojections equal in number to the number of blades, said projectionsbeing aligned respectively with and engaging the blades for reinforcingsaid blades.

2. A fan construction including, in combination, a plurality ofindividual blades formed of sheet metal, each of said blades having anannular portion at one end defining an opening, a hub member having alaterally extending circular flange of a dimension to snugly fit intothe openings in the blades, the annular portions of said blades being innested relation with the blades in radiallyextendingcircumferentially-spaced relation whereby the leading edges of theblades are rotatable in spaced parallel planes, the laterally extendingflange on the hub member extending through the openings in the annularportions of all of the blades, said hub member having integralprojections equal in number to the number of blades and respectivelyengaging the blades for reinforcing said blades.

3. A fan construction including, in combination, a plurality ofindividual blades formed of sheet metal, each of said blades having anannular planar hub portion at one end, a hub member of sheet metalhaving a laterally extending circular flange, the annular hub portionsof said blades being in nested relation with the blades in nestedrelation with the blades in radially-extending circumferentially-spa-cedrelation and the circular flange extending through the openings in theblades defined by the annular hub portions, said hub member havingradially extending integral projections equal in number to the number ofblades, said projections being respectively aligned with and engagingthe blades for reinforcing said blades.

4. A fan construction including, in combination, a plurality ofindividual blades, each of said blades being of sheet metal, an endregion of each blade being of planar shape and having a first openingtherein, a hub member of sheet metal having a laterally projectingcircular flange, said blades being arranged with the planar portions innested relation with the circular flange extending through the firstopenings in all of the blades, said blades extending radially from thehub member in circumferentially-spaced relation, radially extendingprojections integral With the hub member, said projections of the hubmember being successively displaced axially whereby the projectionsengage respectively the radially extending portions of the blades forreinforcing said blades, said hub member and each of the planar portionsof the blades having a plurality of small openings in aligned relationand adapted to receive means for securing the hub member and blades inasssernbled relation.

5. A fan construction including, in combination, a plurality ofindividual blades formed of sheet metal, each of said blades having anend region of planar shape, a first opening in said end region and aplurality of small openings therein spaced from the first opening, a hubmember of sheet metal having a laterally projecting flange of a shape tosnugly fit into the first openings in the blades, the planar regions ofthe blades provided With the openings being in nested relation with thecircular flange extending through all of the first openings in theblades, said blades extending radially from the hub member inlaterally-olfset circumferentially spaced relation, projections integralWith the hub member equal in number to the number of blades and engagingthe blades for reinforcing said blades, said hub member having aplurality of small openings aligned with the plurality of small openingsin the planar end regions of the blades adapted to receive means forsecuring said blades and hub member in assembled relation.

6. A fan construction including, in combination, a plurality ofindividual blades of substantially identical shape formed of sheetmetal, each of said blades having a curved air movin configuration andan annular hub portion, a hub member of sheet metal having a circularflange, the annular hub portions of the blades being disposed insuccessive contiguous nested relation with the circular flange of thehub member extending through the openings defining the annular hubportions of the blades, said hub member having integral projectionscontiguous with portions of the blades and engaging the blades forreinforcing said blades, each of said blades being oflset axially fromthe adjacent blade an amount equal to the thickness of the metal of theannular hub portion.

7. A fan construction comprising five individual blades, each of saidblades being of sheet metal having a curved air moving portion and anend region of planar shape provided with a circular opening therein, ahub member of sheet metal having a laterally projecting circular flange,said blades being arranged with the planar portions in nested relationwith the circular flange extending through all of the openings in theblades, said blades extending radially from the hub member in nonuniformcircumferentially spaced relation, the planar portions of the bladesbeing ofiset equal distances with respect to the curved air movingportions whereby the leading edges of the air moving portions arerotatable in successive offset parallel planes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,096,079 5/1914Viall 173 1,137,240 4/1915 Sparks 170173 1,184,168 5/1916- Dodson 1701731,260,562 3/ 1918 Macintosh 170l73 1,404,298 1/1922 Jacobs 1701591,983,606 12/1934 Geise 170159 2,139,630 12/1938 Cary 170l73 2,559,8317/1951 Roffy 170173 MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Primary Examiner. EVERETTE A.POWELL, 1a., Examiner,

1. A FAN CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING, IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OFINDIVIDUAL BLADES FORMED OF SHEET METAL, EACH OF SAID BLADES HAVING ANOPENING IN AN END REGION THEREOF DEFINING A GENERALLY ANNULARCONFIGURATION, A HUB MEMBER HAVING A LATERALLY EXTENDING CIRCULAR FLANGEOF A SHAPE TO SNUGLY FIT INTO THE OPENINGS IN THE BLADES, THE ANNULARREGIONS OF THE BLADES DEFINING THE OPENINGS BEING IN STACKED RELATIONWITH THE BLADES IN RADIALLY-EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY-SPACED RELATIONAND THE CIRCULAR FLANGE OF THE HUB MEMBER EXTENDING THROUGH THE OPENINGSIN